Prayer is not only a vital part of the Christian life but also a great privilege and blessing. It is the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father, who loves us and cares for us. But what is the importance of prayer? Why should we pray? How should we pray? What are the benefits of prayer?
The disciples noticed that Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer, and they recognized the power He displayed during His ministry with them, so they asked Him to teach them to pray. Matthew 6: 9 – 13, “Be not ye, therefore, like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen’.”
We call this prayer the Lord’s prayer, but it is our prayer. Prayer coming into the presence of God to reason with Him. Our prayer is broken down into various sections:
Acknowledgment
“Our Father which art in heaven,” We must acknowledge that God is our Father, who is in heaven/ to do this we must be a believer for only an individual who believes that Jesus is God will pray to Him.
Praise and Worship
“Hallowed be thy name’ after we acknowledge God, we praise and worship him for who He is. As the Psalm said in Psalm 100: 4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.” I noticed that when I am stressed, and I start to pray, when I begin to praise the Lord Jesus, my anxiety gets less.
God’s Will to be Done
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” We are telling the Lord that we want His will to take precedence over ours, we are submitting our lives to Him.
Making Our Daily Request
“Give us day by day our daily bread.” Now we begin to ask Jesus for the things that is concerning or worrying us. Food, clothing, shelter, money, anything. Remember however we do not live by bread alone.
Forgiveness
“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us” We are saying that we too have made mistakes in our life and need His forgiveness. We are also asking Him to change our hearts to be like His so that we can forgive others.
Guidance and Direction
“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” We are asking God to guide us and protect us. Remember we are not fighting against flesh and blood.
Acknowledgment
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” We are thanking Him, for being our God, who has all power both in heaven and earth.
Prayer is not just words but a state of mind. The importance of prayer can be seen from several perspectives.
First, prayer is important because it is God’s will for us. The Bible commands us to pray in various ways and occasions (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). God wants us to pray because He wants to hear from us and have a personal relationship with us. He wants us to share our joys and sorrows, our needs and desires, our praises and confessions, our requests and thanksgivings. He wants us to acknowledge His presence and power, His grace and mercy, His sovereignty and wisdom, His holiness and love.
Second, prayer is important because it is God’s way for us. The Bible teaches us that prayer is how God accomplishes His purposes in our lives and in the world (James 5:16; Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13-14; Mark 11:24). God works through prayer to reveal His will to us, to guide our steps, to provide our needs, to protect us from harm, to heal our wounds, to deliver us from evil, to strengthen our faith, to transform our character, to equip us for service, to bless us with His gifts, to answer our petitions, to fulfill His promises.
Third, prayer is important because it is God’s gift to us. The Bible shows us that prayer is a privilege that we enjoy as God’s children through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16; Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 2:18; Galatians 4:6). God invites us to come to Him with confidence and boldness, knowing that He hears us and cares for us. He welcomes us into His throne room of grace, where we can find mercy and help in time of need. He adopts us into His family, where we can call Him Abba, Father. He grants us access to His presence, where we can experience His joy and peace.
The importance of prayer can also be seen in its benefits. Prayer benefits us in many ways. Some of the benefits of prayer are:
– Prayer draws us closer to God. As we pray, we commune with God and enjoy His fellowship. We learn more about His character and attributes. We grow in our love and devotion to Him. We deepen our intimacy and friendship with Him.
– Prayer aligns us with God’s will. As we pray, we submit to God and surrender our will to Him. We seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else. We acknowledge His lordship and authority over our lives. We conform our thoughts and desires to His mind and heart.
– Prayer changes us for the better. As we pray, we are transformed by God’s Spirit and Word. We are renewed in our mind and spirit. We are sanctified in our soul and body. We are molded into the image and likeness of Christ.
– Prayer empowers us for service. As we pray, we receive God’s strength and grace. We are filled with His power and wisdom. We are equipped with His gifts and abilities. We are enabled to do His work and will.
– Prayer blesses others through us. As we pray, we intercede for others and minister to their needs. We pray for their salvation and growth. We pray for their healing and deliverance. We pray for their protection and provision. We pray for their peace and joy.
Prayer is important because it is God’s will, way, and gift for us. It is also beneficial to us and others. Therefore, let us pray without ceasing, with faith and fervor, with humility and sincerity, with gratitude and praise, with confidence and boldness, and with joy and hope.